MS in the UK

Discover more about an MS degree in the UK

Master of Science is also known as MS in the standard master’s level qualification for taught courses in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) fields. The course provides students with an opportunity to focus on the desired area of interest in depth. 

Why study MS in the UK?

Studying MS in the UK offers more perks than just one. Here are the top reasons why students choose the UK for their postgraduation: 

• World-class institutions: Some of the top universities offering MS programs include renowned UK universities such as the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. Four of the UK universities rank in QS World University Rankings 2023’s top 10 in the world 

• The country with best student cities: According to the QS News Ranking 2022 for the Best Student Cities, the UK ranks high with 14 cities in the list of Top 100 countries across the globe. Besides, 7 of them rank in the top 50 with London positioned at the No. 1 position 

• Accelerated degrees: MS in the UK is generally for one year. However, some programs such as MRes might take up to 2 to 4 years. In any other country, an MS degree on average takes 1.5 to 2 years to complete

• Financial assistance: The advantage to study MS in the UK is that there are ample grants and scholarships available. In addition, these awards cover both tuition fees and living expenses offered by either government, institutions, or private organisations

• Job prospects: According to the OECD data from 2021, a master's or PhD holder makes 95% more than someone with only a high school education certificate (compared to 45% for a bachelor's graduate)

Eligibility 

The most common requirements that you’ll need to meet are: 

• A 2:2 or higher at the undergraduate level

• A degree in Bachelor of Science (BSc) or prior experience in the relevant subject

• English language proficiency test results like IELTS

However, we recommend you check with your university's admissions department or consult with an IDP expert who can guide you to understand your eligibility well. 

Cost of studying MS in the UK

The cost of an MS degree in the UK is significantly dependent on the type of course and mode of delivery. Here's how to figure out what's going on: 

*indicative

Popular specialisation subjects for MS in the UK 

• Cyber Security

• Economics

• Management

• Mechanical Engineering

• Astrophysics 

• Data Analysis

• Sports Therapy

• Conservation Studies

• Food Science

• Forensic Psychology

• Global Finance

• Human Nutrition

• International Relations

• Microbiology

• Professional Accounting

• Real Estate

• Social Work

• Software Engineering

• Statistics

Duration of MS courses in the UK

Usually, MS courses take one to two years if studied full time with individual modules including an independent study or dissertation project. However, part-time MS programs are double the length of a full-time course.

Do remember that most of the universities in the UK have rolling deadlines. Therefore, it’s recommended to check with our international education specialists or desired university about these program-specific deadlines.

Updated on July 25, 2022